Needle-making machine.



m m m V. o N d e t n e .I a P mm Hw .C1 EAL mmm AGMw MT e Dum FMm l tLEM L1 DW E@ E N 8. 9 3., 6 o0A 6 0. N

l2 sheets-sheet l.

(No Model.)

mwN/@ Y nu. 686,398. Patented Nov. (2,1m.

Y l E. FoNTAmE.

NEEDLE MAKING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 11, 1897.)

I2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

'r Nonms Pneus No. 686,398. I Patented Nov. l2, 190|.

fom/uma.v NEEDLE MAKING MACHINE.

(Appl t nil dJ n 11 1897) i I2 Sheena-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

" EaZ/@afar No. 686,398. l Patentedmv. l2, |901. E. FONTAINE..

NEEDLE MAKING MACHINE.

(Application led Jan. 11, 1897.)

|42 Sheets-*Sheet 4.

(No Mqdel.)

no. 686,398. Pafenfednuv. l2, wol. E. FONTAINE..

NEEDLE MAKING MACHINE.

(Application med Jan. 11, 189m l2 Sheets-Sheet 4.

l (No Mgdel.)

` No. saaa.

Patented Nov. I2, |90I. E. FONTAINE. NEEDLE MAKING MACHINE.

(Appliction :Bled Gian. 11, 1897.)

(No Modeln l2 Shafs-Sheet 5.

Y \N QN N0. 686,398. i i Patented Nov. '|2, |90I. v,

E. FONTAINE.

NEEDLE MAKING MACHINE.

(Application led Jan. 11, 1897.)

(No Model.) l2 lSheets-Sheet 6.

no. 636,398. Patented nov. l2, mol.

1 E. FONTAINE.

NEEDLE MAKING MACHINE.

(Application :Bled Jan. 11, 1897.)

Patented Nov. l2, |901'.

E. FONTAINE. NEEDLE MAKING MACHINE.

(Application led Jan. 11, 1897.)

v I2 Sheets-Sheet 8.

(No Model.)

l Vl;

N0. 686,398. Patented NDV. I2, l90l.

E. FNTAINE.

NEEDLE MAKING MACHINE.

(Application led Jan. 11, 1897.)

I2 Sheets-Sheet 9.

(No Model.)

m Gla. w, V. o N d. e t n e. t a P E. m H .c LA NM AG TN .Nl um FM LE LD E E N 8. 9 3., 6 8 6 0. N

(Application led Jan. 11, 1897.)

I2 Sheets-Sheet I0.

(No Model.)

glvl-l No. 686,393. Patented nov. l2, |9ol.

y E. FONTAINE.

NEEDLE MAKING MACHINE.

Sheet II.

(Application led Jan. 11, 1897.)

I2 Sheets- (No Model.)

N0. 686,398. Patented Nov. I2,AI9I.l E. FONTAINE.

NEEDLE MAKING MACHINE.

(Application led Jan. 11, 1897.)

I2 Sheets-Sheet l2.

(No Model.)

NTTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENEV FONTAINE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO X. L.NEEDLE COMPANY,OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A *CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

NEEDLE-MAKING MACHINE.

A SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 686,398, datedNovember 12, 1901.

Application tiled January 11, 1897. Serial No. 618,798. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: .chuck to which the blank is fed. Fig. 11 isBeit known that I, EUGENE FONTAINE, a a detail section at the line 11 11on Fig. 10.

citizen of the United States, residing at De- Fig. 12 is a detailsection at the line 12 12 troit, county f Wayne, and'State of MichiouFig. 1l. Fig. 13 is a detail elevation'of 55 s gan, have inventedcertainnew and useful the beveled gear-wheel and cam thereon and Improvements4in Needle-Making Machines, associated partsas seen looking toward thewhich are fully set forth in the followingspeciline 13 13 on Fig. 11.Fig. 14 is a section at iication, reference being had to the accomtheline 14 .14 on Fig. 10. Fig. 15 is a detail panying drawings, forming apart thereof. plan View, partly sectional and having cer- 6o '1o Thepurpose ofthis invention is to provide tain parts broken away to showothers beimprovedmechanism for the manufacture of heath, of themechanism for giving stephand sewing-'needles from continuous wire,by-step rotation to the three rotating tables. finishing the needles intheir passage through Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional detail showthemachine in all respects except tempering ing the ejecting-rolls and thechuck about to 65 and repolishing. deliver a needle thereto. Fig. 17is asection The invention consists in the speciiic mechat the line 17 17 onFig. 1 Fig. 18 is a deanism for the several steps in the process andtail section at the line 3 3 on Fig. 1, showing their association witheach other in the relathe structure and meansof actuating a dietions andorder set forth in the claims. press concerned in the formation of aneedle 7o zo In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan of head and eye,certain parts being shown in my needlemaking machine, minor detailselevation. Fig. 19 is a detaiiouter elevation being suppressed oromitted to avoid confusof the same press, showing also contiguous ingthe View, the purpose of the plan beparts. Fig. 20 is an enlarged detailsection ing to show the general organization as seen at the line 20 2Oon Fig. 2, showing the de- 75 from the top. Fig. 2 is a top plan of thevice for transmitting reciprocating motion to framework of the machinestripped of the a slide-head, which gives rotary step motion greaterportion of the mechanism, only such to the rotating tables. Fig. 2l is adetail moving parts being shown as will not confuse plan showing thedevice for communicating the View of the framework. Fig. 3 is asecmotionto the table-locking mechanism as 8o 3o tion at the vertical planeindicated by the seen looking in the direction of the arrow 2l line3 3on Fig. 1, certain parts which would on Fig. 3. Fig. 22 is a detailsection at the be cut in said plane being shown in elevaline 22 22 onFig. 4, showing a device for tion. Fig. 4 is a detail section in thesame opening the chucks on the iirst carrier to deplane as Fig. 3, on anenlarged scale, except liver the blanks. Fig. 23 is a detailsection 85as to the part shown in Fig. 24, which is showing a chuck on the firsttable delivering shown at the line 4 4 on Fig. 24, and extenda blank toa chuck on the second table, the ing only from center to center of thefirst and section being in the vertical plane of the axes secondrotating tables. Fig. 5 is a detail secof the two chucks. Fig. 24 is aface view of tion at the line 5 5 on Fig. 15. Fig. 6 is a dethe devicefor opening the rotating chucks to 9o 4o tail elevation looking in thedirection of the receive the blanks. Fig. 25 is a detail elevaarrow 6 onFig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail elevation tion of one of the two preciselysimilar minor looking in the direction of the arrow 7 on Fig.die-presses for forming the head and eye as 1; Fig. S, a detailelevation looking in the diseen looking in the direction of the arrow 25rection of the arrow 8 on Fig. 1; Fig. 9, a deonFig. 1. Fig. 26 is a topplan of the other 95 tail elevation looking in the direction of the ofsaid similar' presses, and Fig. 27 is a secarrow 9 on Fig. 1, saiddetail elevations betion at the line 27 27 on Fig. 26. Fig. 28 is ingdesigned to trace the driving power from a magnified view of theneedle-blank after it the principal shafts to the grinding, polishhasbeen operated upon by the first press for ing, and other operatingmechanisms. Fig. forming the head. Fig. 29 is a magnified roo 5o 10 is adetail plan of the Wire feeding and view of the blankafter it has beensubjected cut-off mechanism, showing partially the first to the actionof the second press for forming the head and eye. Fig. 30 is a detailsection at the line 30 3l on Fig. 29, showing in section at the sameplane the punch and die which form the blank, as shown. Fig. 3l is asection at the same line after the blank has been subjected tothe actionof the punch and die in the third press, the punch and die being shownin section at the same plane. Fig. 32 is a magnified view of theneedle-blank and the part trimmed off from the head in the fourth press.Fig. 33 is a detail showing a stop device to limit the insertion ofblanks in the chucks of the first carrier. Fig. 34 is a detail elevationof the stock for the polishing-belts. Fig. 35 is a detail plan ofportions of the carriers and parts mounted thereon and associatedtherewith, showing the several devices for transferring the blanks fromcarrier to carrier and otherwise adjusting them. Fig. 36 is a detailelevation of the setting device for adjusting the protrusion of theblank on the last carrier.

Before proceeding with the description of this machine in detail itsgeneral plan will be explained. The inain frame supports threehorizontal circular tables, each rotating about its own center andcarrying radiallyarranged chucks or holders by which the needle-blank isheld during the performance of the various operations upon it. The wirefrom which the needles are to be made is advanced by proper feedingdevices through a guide and cutter, which severs the proper lengths. Theblank thus cnt off is received in a chuck on the first table, which,rotating with a step-by-step motion about its center, carries theprotruding end of the blank successively to suitable dies and dressingdevices, by Whicn the head and eye are formed. After passing the lastdressing device pertaining to this table the chuck comes into line witha chuck on the second table, and during the halt at this point the firstchuck releases the blank and the second chuck receivesit. The secondtable, rotating similarly to the first table with a step-by-step motion,carries the blank, protruding the end which was not protruded before,past suitable grinding and dressing devices, which form and iinish thepoint. The chuck then comesinto line with a chuck on the third table, towhich the blank is transferred by mechanism similar to that by which itstransfer from the first table to the second was effected, and thestep-bystep rotation of this third table carries the protruded end,which is now the head end, past suitable dressing devices, which finishthis end. After passing these devices the grasp of the chuck is releasedby proper mechanism, and the completed needle is withdrawn by beingentered between continuously-rotating gripping-rolls and released fromthe chuck. On the first table the chucks do not rotate, the blank beingnecessarily held non-rotating While being operated upon by the dieswhich form the eye and the head and trim the latter, and on the secondand third tables the blank is rotated, as is necessary to grind itproperly.

A is the supporting-frame for the entire mechanism,comprising suitablestandards A A', a cross-beam a', and a skeleton horizontal top frame A2,which has bearings A20, A21, and A22 for the three rotating tables M, N,and O. This frame comprises also lateral appendages in the form ofbrackets A23 A24, which support the various dressing devices and otheroperating devices pertaining to the second and third tables. The deviceswhich cooperate with the first table, which has nonrotating chucks, aremounted on the horizontal top frame A2, which is suitably extended at0.2 for this purpose. The standards A A', dac., rest upon and are rigidwith a solid base A0, preferably of cast-iron, and this base supportsthe brackets A3 A0, in which the counter-shaft b is journaled, on whichare the pulleys B' B2, through which power is communicated to operatethe machine, as shown in Figs. 2, 6, and 7. A pulley B3 on the sameshaft, through a belt b2, transmits power to a pulley C on a shaft catthe opposite side of the frame, journaled in brackets A4 A4, mounted onthe base A0, and a small pulley C2 on the same shaft by means of thebelt c2 drives the large pulley C3, xed on the end of the shaft c3,which is journaled in boxes A5A5, mounted on hips or shoulders A10 A10,formed at the upper end of the standards A A of the frame A, as shown inFigs. 2, 8, and 9. From the shaft b, by means of pulleys thereon, suchof the grinding and dressing devices as are located on the side of themachine at which said shaft is located are driven, as shown in Figs. 6and 7. By means of pulleys on the shaft c power is transmitted to drivethe dressing devices, which cooperate with the third table and thedelivering feed-rolls adjacent to that table and the wire-feeding deviceadjacent to the first table, as shown in Fig. 8. The shaft c2, by meansof gears thereon, drives (a) the wirecutting mechanism,(b) themechanisms which rotate the chucks on the second and third tables, (c)the mechanisms which give to the rotating tables their step-by-steprotary motion, and (d) the dressing and other devices associated withthe first table which operate upon the blanks held non-rotating in thechucks on that table. All the mechanisms driven by this shaft o0, beingnecessarily timed with each other, should operate and rest together, andsince it is frequently necessary that one or the other of thesemechanisms should be interrupted in its action, so as to removedefective blanks or to inspect the Work at different stages, I make thebelt c2, which drives the pulley C3, normally slack and provide atightening-pulley C4, mounted on the lever C40 and provided with abrake-shoe C41, by the operation of which the belt may be tightened andcaused to drive the pulley Csor slackened While the brake-shoe checksthe pulley.

The table M (shown in Figs. l, 3, 4, and 15) has a spindle M projectingfrom its lower IOO IIO

VA2 and extending both above and down through said top frame. The tableN has a hollow spindle N', by which it is similarly journaled in a boxA21, similarly mounted, by

means of its lian'ge a21, on the upper side of the top frame A2, and thetable O has also a hollow spindle O', which is journaled in the box A22by a iiange @22 on the 4upperside of the top frame A2.

Step-by-step rotation of the three tables is produced by the followingmechanism, (shown in Figs. 2, 8, `9, 15, and

On the shaft c2 is a beveled pinionC20, which meshes with and drives alarge beveled gear E, xed on a shaft e, which extends across the framefrom side to side, having j ournalfbearings in boxes A6 A2 at theopposite sides of the frame above the hips A10. On this shaft c insidethe bearing A0'is the eccentric E', working in a collar E10, whichslides in abox E20, vertically elongated and pivoted at the lower end toa bracket-arm A4 of the frame A and connected by the rod 620 to thesliding head E2, for which slide-bearings are provided in the parallelbars of the top frame A2 between the vertical plane of the axes of thefirst and second table's and the axis of the third table, said bearingsand sliding motion being parallel with the said vertical plane. It willbe understood that the rotation of the shaft e will give reciprocatingmotion to the sliding head E2. By reason of the position of the leverbelow the shaft e the movement ofthe llever in one direction will beeected by the rotation of the eccentric through the larger arc containedbetween radii from the fulcrum of the lever tangent to the circledescribed by the extremity of the longest radius of the eccentric, andthe movement of said lever in the opposite direction will correspondwith the yrotation of the eccentric through the shorter arc inclosedbetween said radii, thus making the motion in one direction occupy alonger time than the return motion in the opposite direction. To saidsliding head are vertically pivoted the pitman or pawl links F', F2, andF3, which at their ends re,- mote from their pivots are connected,respectively, to the levers F10 F20 F20, journaled concentrically withthe spindles M', N', and O' of the tables, respectively, and havingpivotally attached to them the spring-actuating pawls F11, F21, and F21,respectively, which engage with the ratchet-flanges M3 N3 O3 of thetables M N O, respectively.

In order that the tables M, N, and O may be without liability to bedisplaced from the positions at which their respective chucks are inline when the tables are at rest andV in order especially that they maynot be rotated by the bevel-gears which are provided to rotate thechucks on said tables, it is necessary that they should be locked in theposition of rest and not merely brought to that position by the pawls.For the purpose of thus locking the tables they are provided withnotched locking-rims M2 N2 O2, respectively, the number and position ofthe notches corresponding to the number and position of theratchet-teeth by engagement with which the tables are rotated. Thenotches are thus indicated by the latters m2, n2, and o2 on thetables,respectively, For the several tables I provide sliding bolts W,X, and Y, respectively. Bolts W and X, pertaining to the tables M and N,respectively, are mounted in parallel slide-bearings in a bracket W',secured from the top of the table A2 between the rotating tables M andN. Underneath said bolts is a disk X2, having diametrically oppositenotches :c2 x2,into which abutments W10 X10, which project downward fromthe slide-bolts W and X, respectively, take. The disk X2 has a verticalshaft X20, which extends down through the bracket and through the top ofthe table and is provided with an additional bearing in a bracket A20,which is mounted on the cross-bar of the main frame near its lower edge.Below the bearing of the shaft in this bracket there is secured to saidshaft a collar W2, and above the collar, which projects past the loweredge of the bracket, a slide Y2 is provided with slide bearings in saidbracket, or, more strictly speaking, between the same and the collar, asshown in Figs. 3 and 21. The collar W2 has one notch w2 corresponding toone of the notches in the disk X2, and into this notch a stud c2A fromthe slide Y2 takes. The slide Y2 extends along horizontally by the sideof the frame-beaml above and past the shaft e and beyond said shaft isprovided with an additional slide-bearing in the small bracket d20. Onthe shaft e is a cam E0, having one projection E00, and the slide Y2 hastwo fingers Y20 Y20 projecting downward in the plane of the cam E6 atopposite sides thereof and at a distance apart equal to the IOC IIO

greatest di'ametric measurement of the camthat is, its dimensionmeasuring from the point of the projection through the center to theopposite periphery-so that as the cam rotates with the shaft e saidprojection colliding at one side with one of the vlingers Y20 will shiftthe slide in one direction, and as it continues its rotation collideswith the opposite linger and shifts the slide back in the oppositedirection. The cam E0 is mounted on the shaft e with its projection insuch relation to the eccentric which operates the slide-head as to causesaid projection to shift the slide Y2 in one direction at the instantthe rotating tables come to rest at the limit of the actuating stroke ofthe pawl and in the opposite direction at or just before the instant atwhich the pawls, having been retracted, become engaged with the tablespreparatorytoactuatingthem anotherstep. The slide-'bolt Y, which locksthe table O, obtains slide-bearing in the bracket A20, whichsupmechanism. To operate this bolt, a disk Y I bracket, are wirefeed-rolls V e.

is provided on a short vertical shaft Y0, journaled in said bracket, thedisk Yn having the notch y, into which a stud y1 on the bolt Y takes. Apitman-link Y extends from the disk X2 to the disk Ya and communicatesthe oscillating motion of the disk X2 to the disk Y, causing the latterto actuate the bolt Y in both directions simultaneously with the otherbolts IV and X.

On the table M are mounted radially-arranged chairs M1, by which thechucks R are rigidly secured to the table.

The table N is provided on its upper side with radially-arranged chairsN1, which have bearings N10 and N11 for the rotating radial chucks P PP, lue. The table O is similarly provided with chairs O1, havingbearings O40 and 041 for the spindles of the rotating radial chucks S SS. Before proceeding with detail descriptions of these chucks R, P, andS the wire feeding and cutting mechanisms should be described and areshown in Figs. l, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

A bracket A21, mounted with capacity for adjustment in line radial withrespect to the table M, is secured upon the upper side of the top frameA2. In the upper part of this bracket there is journaled at the endtoward the table M a shaft U, having a longitudinal aperture U,eccentrically situated. At the forward end of this shaft U asegment-gear U2 is made fast to it, and a suitable stop-collar U3 at therear end retains the shaft longitudinally in its bearing. In the lowerpart of the bracket A27 a rock-shaft U1 is journaled, having at theouter end a lever-arm U10, which extends down past the face of the gearE. On the face of said gear there is mounted adjustably a cam E3, havingthe cam-slot E30, and the lever-arm U10 has an abutment n10, which takesinto said cam, so that the rotation of the gear E oscillates the arm androcks the shaft U1. At the inner end of said shaft a segment-gear it"meshes with the segment-gear U2, whereby the rotation of the gear Erocks the shaft U in its bearings. The wire from which the needleblanksare cut is designed to be fed through the longitudinal aperture U towardand into a chuck R on the table M. To sever the blank from the runningwire, I provide a fixed cutter U5, bearing against the end of the shaftU in such a position that the oscillation of said shaft carries themouth of the aperture U past the upper edge of such fixed cutter,cutting off a blank from the running wire with a square cut, the lengthof the blank thus severed being determined bythe depth of the insertionof the wire into the receiving-chuck R, which is regulated by theadjustment ofthe bracket A27 toward and from the center of the table M,the chuck R having a bottom stop for the blank, as hereinafterdescribed. Outward from the shaft U, vertically journaled in the Theroll V is rigid with the gear V', which meshes with an equal gear u1,which is rigid with the roll o. A larger beveled gear V2, rigid with thegear V', meshes with and is driven by a beveled gear V3 on the inner endof the shaft v3, at the outer end of which is a pulley V01, which isrotated by a belt driven bya pulley C5 on the shaft c. U30 and @21 areguides :for the wire, by which it is caused to enter the friction-rollsV and v. The roll e and gear o have their axle-bearings on a block u,which is set into the bracket A27 with capacity for adjustmenttransversely toward and from the axis of the roll V, and a spring u',mounted on the bracket A27, has set through it a screw M10, which bearsagainst the outer end of the slide u, whereby the spring tends to holdthe roll U and its pinion t" yieldingly toward the roll V and pinion V',respectively, thus giving a yielding grasp to the rollers upon the wire.The slight movement of the movable roll and pinion necessary to adaptthe rolls to grasp the different sizes of wire which will be fed betweenthem is too slight to interfere with the proper meshing of the pinions oV'. The detail structure and operation of the chucks R P S on the tablesM N O, respectively, will now be described and are shown in Figs. 1, 3,4, and 23.

The chucks R P and S have axial apertures adapted to receiveneedle-blanks and cut away a little back of the ends forming notches tomake lateral openings into the axial apertures. The jaws R4 P1 and S4are pivoted to the bodies of the chucks R P and S, respectively, andprovided with springs adapted to hold the ends of the jaws down into thenotches R10 P10 S10, respectively, so that they will grasp theneedle-blank when the latter is inserted snfiiciently into the axialapertures. Of the chucks R and P the axial apertures are shown at R andP1, the notches at R10 and P10, and the springs at R5 and P0, and thechucks S are in these respects substantially similar to the chucks R,but are not shown in detail in the drawings. In the chuck R the apertureR extends through the chuck, being enlarged back of the seat of the jawR4, and a plunger R2 occupies said enlarged portion and protrudesnormally somewhat beyond the inner end of the chuck. M2 is a circulardisk having a stem M0', which extends down through the central aperturein the spindle M of the table M, an

'annular boss or Washer M2 about the root of the spindle causing thedisk Ma to be stopped and supported on the table M a little above andout of contact with the latter. An arm Mas, rigid with the main table,extends to the frame of the press, hereinafter described, which is rigidwith the main frame, and being secured thereto holds the disk Mnonrotable with respect to the table M. This disk serves to supportseveral devices which cooperate with the chucks R. The first device is ashoe M, which is situated radially in line with the aperture U' in theshaft U, through which the blank emerges when it enters the chuck, asshown in Figs. 1 and IOO IIO

IZO

This shoe is therefore radially in line with the chuck when it receivesthe blank and serves as a rear stop for the plunger R2. The bracket A27,being adjusted to bring the cut-off point at such distance from theouter end of 'the plunger R2 as required by the desired length of blank,the rotation of the table M, carrying the chuck R and the plunger R2 offthe shoe M24, permits the plunger R2, and therewith the blank, to beforced inward the distance which the shoe protrudes beyond the peripheryof the disk Ma. This is necessary in order to accommodate the blank whenslightly increased in length by the stretching, which occurs in theprocess of forming the head and eye hereinafter described.

On the table N at the inner side of the inner bearing N40 of each of thechucks P there is a beveled'piniou P', having a sleeve P41, which isjournaled in the bearing N40, the spindle of the chuck extending throughthe sleeve of the pinion and being frictionally driven thereby, saidpinion being driven by the horizontal beveled gear Q, whose verticalshaft Q' is journaled within the tubular shaft or spindle N' of thetable N, said shaft Q' protruding from the lower end of the tablespindleN' and on its protruding end having a beveled gear Q2, which meshes with'and is driven by a beveled gear Q3 on a horizontal shaft q2 in theframe, and having at its outer end a beveled gear Q4, which meshes withand is driven by the beveled gear C31 on the shaft c3,'as shown in Figs.2 and 3. Similarly on the table O at the inner side of the bearings O40of each chuck S there is a beveled pinion S', meshing with a horizontalgear T, having the shaft T' journaled within the spindle O' of the tableO and having at its lower end a beveled gear T2, which meshes with andis driven by a beveled gear C22 on the shaft c3. This structure affordsmeans for rotating all the chucks P and S whenever the shaft c3 is inaction and the chuckspindle is frictionally engaged with the sleeve ofthe beveled pinion pertaining to it. The detail structure by which thechuck-spindle is held in such vfrictional engagement and disengaged atproper time is the same forv the chucks on the two tables N and O, andthe description which will now be given with reference primarily to thechucks on the table N will be applicable to the chucks on table O. lnthe under side of the chair N4 a bearing radial with respect to thetable N is provided for a slide N42, which has a fork i242 protruding upthrough the longitudinal opening N43 in the chair and engaging theannular groove P2 in the spindle of the chuck. Said spindle inward fromsaid annular groove and between the same and the reduced portion p has aconical shoulder P3, for which a seatis provided in the outer end of thesleeveshaft P1l of the beveled pinion P'. The slide N42 has thedownwardly-projecting arm N44, which protrudes through the table N andaffords attachment for a spring N45, the opposite end of which isattached to the eye n of the table. This spring tends to hold the chuckwithdrawn toward the center and with its conical shoulder seated in theconical seat provided for it in the onterend of the sleeve P11 of thepinion P'. To increase the frictional grasp of the sleeve P11 upon thechuck P, I

provide springs p', attached to the spindles and lodged in longitudinalgroovesp10 therein and adapted to react outward against the innersurface of the sleeve, in which a slight groove may be cut to seat thesprings, and give thereby a somewhat positive grasp, but not so positiveas to prevent the chuck-spindles slipping in the collar when any severeresistance is encountered. Mounted on the studs A0 A0 on the frame aresegment spurgears H0 H7,which intermesh. Said segmentgears have arms H00and H70, respectively, which have abutments H02 and H72 bearing againstthe arm N44 of the slides N42, which pertain to two chucks P, which arerespectively in line with chucks R and S on the tables M and O,respectively. The arm H00 of the segment-gear H0 has an abutment H01,preferably a stud and roll, which is adapted to take into the notches ofthe annular camplate II, which is mounted concentrically about the stemof the table N, being most conveniently seated outside the collar f20,to whose lever-arm F20 the table-actuating pawl is pivoted. To this samelever-arm F20 there is pivoted a pawl H', provided with a spring H10 andhaving an abutment Hu, adapted to take into the notches H2 of theannular cam-plate H to rotate the latter step by step in the movementwhich retracts the pawl F2l over the ratchet-flange N3 of the tableN,whereby the annular cam-plate moves during the intervals of rest ofthe table. Such movement, therefore, of the cam-plate by virtue of theengagement of its notches with the arm of the gear-segment H6 and thearm H of the gear-segment H7 to force outward, with respect to the tableN, the slide N42, pertaining to two chucks P, which are in line,respectively, with chucks R and S on tables M and O respectively,carrying the chucks engaged with the forks on said slides respectivelyradially outward, whereby the conical shoulder P3 on the spindle of thechuck P is carried out of frictional engagement with the sleeve P11 ofthe pinion P'. On the bracket W', which supports the locking-slides forthe tables M and N, there is mounted a bracket J,

IOO

having a circular opening J', axially in line A with the chucks on saidtables which are in line with each other when the tables are at rest. Astud J projects from this bracket on the side toward the table M, and onsaid stud there is fulcrumed a lever J10, having as one arm a shoe J12,overhanging the path of the tail of the chucks on the table M, saidlever having also the arm J12, projecting in the opposite direction andover-hanging the arm E21 of thebracket E20, which extends upward fromthe slide-head E2. Said arm E21 has a cam-upraise E22, which passesunder the lever-arm J13 as the slide-head moves in the direction toretract the table-feeding pawls F11 E21 F31-that is to say, during theintervals of rest of the tables. At this stage a chuck R stands at restin line with the chuck P, with its jaw overhung by the lever-arm J12, sothat when the cam-upraise E22, passing under the lever-arm J13, liftsthe latter it forces down the lever arm or shoe J12 on the rear end ofthe jaw of the chuck and opens the same, releasing the needle-blank fromthe grasp of the jaw. The parts are so situated that this action occursafter the chuck P has been adward the table N are a series of radialtrips J3, &c., hinged atja j, bc., at their outer ends tothe face of thebracket, toward the table N, and adapted to swing outward from thatface, their inner ends meeting at their corners and togetherconstituting, by their inner ends, a complete marginal flange about saidopening. Springs Jbb, the. lodge in the bracket and act upon the heelsof these trips, tending to seat them against the substance of thebracket, where they are positively stopped in position to constitute thecomplete ange described. As the chuck P is advanced into the opening ofthe bracket this marginal flange is encountered by the tail of the jawP1, and the jaw is thereby forced open and is held open during theremainder of the protrudingmovement of the chuck, during which the blankin the chuck on the table M is received into the open end of the chuckP. The devices for releasing the needle-blank from the jaw of the chuckR are so situated and the movement is so timed that the blankis notreleased from the grasp of said jaw until after it has entered the openchuck P, since otherwise the blank released from the grasp of the jaw ofthe chuck R would drop down at its free end and would miss or fail toenter the chuck P. The tail of the jaw P1 of the chuck P has an abruptshoulder p4, which runs otf the marginal y flange formed by the trips J3just before the end of the outward thrust-ing movement of said chuck,and thereby the jaw P4 is allowed to grasp the blank received from thechuck R. Vhile the tables continue standing at rest after the chuck Phas been thus advanced to the utmost and while the abutment H61 isriding over the periphery of the annular cam-plate between the notches,the camarm E21 is being carried by the slide-head E2 away from the tableM. On the disk Ma there is fulerumed a bell-crank lever Mb, having onone arm a stud Mb', which bears against the side of the cam-arm E21,while the other arm of said lever by means of a slot mb engages a pinmbb, which projects from a thrustbolt Mb?, radially lodged in the diskM1L and provided with a spring mbz, tending to thrust it outward. Thisthrust-bolt stands radially in line with and directly behind the plungerin the chuck, and tends therefore when not restrained to drive theplunger outward and force the blank ahead of it out of the chuck. It isrestrained from such action by the abutment of the stud Mb against theside of the cam-arm E21, but at the extremity of said cam-arm, which isdetiected to the right, and when this deflected portion reaches the studMb', the spring operating upon the thrust-bolt forces the latter outwardas fast as the slope of the deliected portion of the cam-arm nowwithdrawing past the stud Mb permits. All this occurs while the tablesare still at rest and after the chuck P has been thrust out far enoughto receive the needle-blank. Preferably the thrust action which drivesthe needleblank deeper into the chuck P occurs while the said chuck isstill advancing; but it may occur partly or wholly after the jaw of thechuck P has closed on the blank, thespringmb2 being desirably strongenough to force the blank inward with respect to the chuck P,notwithstanding the grasp of the jaw thereon. The chuck P has a stopconveniently formed by an inturned lug P1o on the jaw P1, whichdetermines the depth to which the blank is thus inserted, and theact-ion of the thrustboltin thus forcing the blank into the chuck P isnot positive, but caused by the spring, in order that the blank may bedriven in against the stop in the chuck without danger of being buckledor bent in the operation. This construction obviates the necessity ofthe absolute accuracy which would otherwise be necessary in theconstruction of the cam plate and all the parts operated thereby tothrust the chuck P outward and also obviates the danger which wouldresult from any unequal wear which might occur either on the cam-plateor on the parts actuated thereby of producing needles of unequal length.With the construction shown any inequality in length of the blanks whichmight occur through any defectin the operation of the wire feeding andcutting-off mechanism merely causes unequal protrusion of theneedle-point while in the chucks on the table N, and such inequality iseliminated by the dressing devices to which the blank is exposed Whilecarried by the chuck P, the longer blank being ground away more than theshorter by the amount of the excessive length. The blank having beendelivered IOS IIO

to the chuck P and the jaw of said chuck having closed upon it and theplunger having either before or after the closing ot' the jaw thrust theblank into the chuck until arrested by the stop P40, the abutment H61 onthe arm of the gear-segment Hb runs off the periphery of the cam-plateinto the next notch,aud the reaction of the spring N15 withdraws theslide N42, causing it to pull back the chuck P, seating its conicalshoulder P3 in the end of the sleeve P11, as at first, and theslide-head E2 now commencing its return movement by means of the pawlF21 gives the table N another step in its rotation, carrying thechuck,with the needle now grasped in and protruding from it, past thebracket J, which is apertu red from the central opening outward at J2 toafford a clear path both for the blank to enter when carried by thechuck R and for said blank to pass out freely While now carried by thechuck P. In the subsequent steps of the table N the needle-blank iscarried over the several grinders and polishers arranged adjacent tothat table and inthe path of the needle-blank, as thus carried by thechuck P. The number and character of these grinding and dressing deviceswill be such as found necessaryin each class of Work, being more or lessand finer or coarser, according to the requirements of the Work. Afterpassing thelast of said devices the chuck P comes in line with one ofthe chucks S on the table O. After the spindles are all lled and themachine is in full operation a needle-blank will be transferred from achuck P to a chuck S at the same time that a blank is transferred from achuck R to a chuck P.

Corresponding to the chair N4, having the opening N43, slide N42, itsfork w12, and arm N44, and with the chuck P, having the groove P2 andconical shoulder P3, and with the spring N45 and eye n there areassociated with the table O for performing the same functions in thesame manner corresponding similar parts which, so far as they appear,are denoted by reference-letters having the same exponents,respectively, letter O being substituted for N and S being substitutedfor P, and corresponding to the studs A0, cam-plate H, having the notchH2, the spring H10, having the abutment H11, segment-gears H0 and H7,having the arms H00 and H70, and the abutments H01, H02, and H72 thereare associated With the table O, performing similar functions, similarstuds a0, cam-plate h, having the notch h2, the spring h10, acting onthe paWl W, which has the abutment h11, spur-gears h0 and k7, having thearms h00and 71,20, and the abutments hm, 7t02, and 72,22, and mounted onthe frametop A2 is the bracketj, having openingjI andtripsj3,whicl1coperate with the chucks S to open the jaws S4 to receivethe blanks in the same manner as the bracket J, having openings J'andtrips J3, coperates with the chucks P to open the jaws PA1 to receivethe blanks from the chucks R; but to open the jaws of the chucks P todeliver the blanks to the chucks S nothing more is required than anannular ange 7'* on the bracket j, into which the chucks .P are thrustwhen the table is at rest, the tail of the jaw P4 colliding With themargin of the flange as the chuck enters and the jaw being therebylifted from the blank, releasing it after it has been inserted in thechuck S.

When received by the chuck on the table O, the blank is carried, Withthe head-'end protruding out of the bracket j, through the slot t73 andis advanced step by step as the table is rotated, coming at some stopsubsequent G4, Aconnected to the arm G10 and to the sidelWardly-projecting arm g of the plunger G, tends to Withdraw the plungerfrom thechuck which stands in line with it. The vertical rock-shaft G3has a second arm G31 below the horizontal arm G20 of the bracket G2, andsaid arm G31 when the plunger is Withdrawn by the spring stands in thepath of an abutment E23 on the slide-head E2. This abutment isconveniently a small studl and roll mounted on the block f2, by whichthe pitman-link F3, which operates the ratchet to rotate the table O, ispivoted to the slide-head. The arm G31 has the angular or V-shapedprojection G32, whose sides are both oblique to the path of theabutmentE23, so that as the abutment travels With the slide-head in onedirection it encounters one of said oblique sides and While traveling inthe opposite direction encounters the other oblique side. When theslide-head is making the movement in which the pawls are retracted andthe tables are at rest, the engagement of the abutment E23 with the armG31 causes the plunger G to be thrust out toward the chuck and toencounter the protruding head of the needle held therein. The lever-armG30 of the rock-shaft G3 is adjustable on the rock-shaft, having a hubQ30, provided with a set-screw for that purpose, so that the thrust ofthe plu nger may be regulated at Will,where by said plunger is caused toforce the blank a greater or less distance back into the chuck When itencounters said blank. The purpose of this device is to cause the blanksto be protruded a uniform distance from the chuck when they encounterthe nal dressing devices Which are to operate upon the head and completethe needle.-

After passing the plunger the blanks encounter first a polishing-beltO0, by which the edges of the flattened head are slightly dressed, thechuck rotating meanwhile, so that both said edges are presented to thepolishing-belt,while,the chuck carrying the blank moves past it. At thenext stage the blank encounters the polishing-belt `O7, by which the endof the head is 'slightly nished, the form of the head when completedbeing ovoidal to the point Where the flattened surfaces about the eyeVcut the ovoidal outline, as seen on amagnited scale in Fig. 3l. Thebelts O6 and O7 derive motion from 'the pulleys C0 and C7, respectively,on the shaft c, suitable belts extending from said pulleys aroundguide-pulleys C30and G70, respectively, which are mounted on thestud-axles G31 and C71, which project from the brackets G02 and C72,respectively, secured on the bracket A24, which constitutes a part ofthe main frame,

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